Controversy
In 2012, the London Book Fair appointed China's censoring organization, the General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP), to choose which Chinese authors would be represented at the event. Chinese authors such as Nobel Prize winner Gao Xingjian were not invited. A representative of the British Council, a large financial supporter of the book fair, applauded the decision saying that the chosen authors were more representative because “they live in China and write their books there,” in contrast with “other writers who have left.” The exiled Chinese writer Ma Jian used red paint to smear across over his face and a copy of his banned book Beijing Coma while he protested the event. He was also "manhandled" while attempting to present a copy of the book to Liu Binjie at the fair.
A number of international and UK media covered the China Market Focus 2012 programme including Isobel Hilton from The Guardian
Read more about this topic: London Book Fair
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